038 Desire Line
Traces of use or wear that indicate preferred methods of interaction.
• Desire lines generally refer to worn paths where people walk, but can be applied to any signs or traces left by user activity.
• Desire lines represent a noninvasive and unbiased measure of how people use things. For example, wear on computer keys indicates their frequency of use.
• Desire lines can be artificially created and studied using technologies such as video cameras, GPS, and website heat maps.
• Pay attention to desire lines. They indicate strong and unbiased user preferences, and represent opportunities for improvement.
See Also Affordance • Cost-Benefit • Gamification Performance Load • Root Cause
Desire lines are often seen branching off of ...
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